Brevard residents clash over textbook's chapter on Islam

Ninth-graders in Brevard County will keep using a world history textbook, despite fierce debate over its chapter on Islam.

The Pearson textbook came under fire in 2013 and again last month, drawing the attention of the local chapters of ACT for America and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. However, the school board ultimately decided Tuesday night to keep the textbook as is.

Leading up to their decision, opponents argued that the chapter ignored the "true history" of Islam and painted Mohammed and the treatment of women in an overly favorable light.

"All the facts must be presented, both the good and the bad," said Lee Boyland, who sat on the textbook review committee back in 2013. "Omitting facts is slanting history."